Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "You are today called to the joyous service of the Gospel, which Pope Francis highlights in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, not only as a personal and communal experience, but also of perspective, since the Holy Father clearly talks about it when he stresses his vision and the journey of the Church in the coming years ". This was the recommendation of Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, on the occasion of the Mass for the opening of the Formative Year of the Pontifical Urban College, which he presided in the chapel of the College yesterday afternoon , October 1, Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux.
"With regards to the saint we cannot forget the value and importance of her missionary vocation - said the Cardinal -. Teresa decided to be «love», in the heart of the Church, and despite the misunderstandings and meanness in the monastery, she committed herself to winning mediocrity".
Citing the next important ecclesial events, including the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Prefect of the Congregation confirmed: "Our College desires to be in harmony with the mind and heart of Pope Francis, and on the path traced by Him for the universal Church".
He then recalled that "love and mercy were also the characteristics of the spirituality of another Teresa, the nun of Calcutta, great Missionary of Charity, a woman who opened her heart to the most needy".
In greeting the great community of the Urban College, students and formators, Card. Filoni invited them to be creators of "a church that has the joy of being Church; a joy that is renewed every day, and is never tired of communicating", and put on guard against three robberies: "Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of our missionary enthusiasm", "let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of the Gospel!", "let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of our missionary vigour". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 02/10/2015)
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